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Britain approves gay marriage

ELEANOR HALL: Now to Britain where the British parliament voted overnight to legalise same sex marriage.

The Prime Minister David Cameron described it as an important step forward that strengthens society.

But the bill has split his Conservative Party - with almost half of the ruling Tory MPs voting against the law.

Jennifer Macey has our report.

JENNIFER MACEY: It was a passionate, respectful and very British afternoon of debate in the House of Commons with more than 70 MPs having their say on gay marriage.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS: Order, as many as are of that opinion, say aye.

HOUSE OF COMMONS: Aye!

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE COMMONS: To the contrary, no.

HOUSE OF COMMONS: No.

JENNIFER MACEY: In the end the Same sex couples marriage bill passed with a clear majority.

TELLER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS: The ayes to the right: 400. The nos to the left: 175.

JENNIFER MACEY: The British prime minister David Cameron welcomed the vote - and acknowledged there were strong views on either side.

DAVID CAMERON: Well today is an important day. I'm a strong believer in marriage. It helps people commit to each other and I think it's right that gay people should be able to get married too. This is yes about equality but it's also about making our society stronger.

JENNIFER MACEY: But David Cameron's modernising agenda has divided his own party with half of the conservative parliamentary MP's voting against the bill.

Some fear the move will cost the Torys votes at the next election while others say the law doesn't actually deliver equality.

For example, the conservative MP, Sir Gerald Howarth says the law is vague on the definition of consummation and that raises questions about the ability to divorce on the grounds of adultery.

GERALD HOWARTH: The government initially proposed this as an equal marriage bill and has today had to admit that it's not equal marriage at all because there will be two different forms of marriage. That between a man and a woman will provide for, as is the case at the moment, adultery and non-consummation to be grounds for divorce. Those provisions will not apply to homosexual marriages.

And Ivan Hinton from Australians for Marriage Equality says it's time Australia joined in.

IVAN HINTON: Australia is becoming further and further internationally isolated. We have a growing circumstance of families and couples coming to Australia and as soon as they arrive in the country, we're going to say well thank you very much for visiting however we don't recognise the dignity of your relationship.

They're now planning a trip to the British Consulate in Canberra to exchange their vows.

DREW CROSS: We decided that because our Australian government won't allow us to get married under their laws, we decided to get married under the UK laws. I just don't see why I should be discriminated because I love the same sex.

JENNIFER MACEY: But they'll want to make the most of it. As Ivan Hinton points out.

IVAN HINTON: But as soon as they walk out that door they will no longer be married.

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